Match Review

WHETHER it was the influence of coach Paul McGregor, halfback Benji Marshall or the three tries from Brett Morris, no one will care about a Canberra hoodoo following the Dragons 34-16 win in the national capital.

McGregor was still on the Dragons playing roster the last time they won in Canberra way back in 2000 and Marshall won his fair share in his Tigers playing days when they travelled down the the Hume.

St George Illawarra even went as far as training with witch doctors in Wollongong during the week - and it worked.

Three-try hero Morris told Fox Sports the Dragons were aware of their dismal record, but remained confident in their own ability if they held onto the ball.

"We tried not to talk about it (the hoodoo), but it's nice to get a win," he said.

"We've come down here a lot of times and been very close and some of those losses have been heartbreaking."

But there would be no heartbreak today.

Gareth Widdop pulled the strings at five-eighth, Marshall had a hand in several tries and centre Josh Dugan returned to haunt his old club.

They conceded the first try in the sixth minute when Josh Papalii muscled his way through some flimsy goal-line defence, but the visitors hit straight back to reclaim the lead 10-6 midway through the first half.

The Raiders then hit back through some Anthony Milford brilliance to take a 12-10 lead to the break.

Jarrod Croker scored minutes into the second half to extend the lead to 16-10, but it then became a red-and-white procession with some remarkable tries scored by both Morris and Jason Nightingale.